New Met Jed Lowrie dealing with soreness in back of his left knee, will have MRI on Thursday

The Mets signed the third baseman to a two-year, $20 million contract on Jan. 16 and hoped he was the final piece in the Mets position-player puzzle, but he’s been quiet and removed since Mets camp started.

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Now we know why.

Mets manager Mickey Callaway revealed after Wednesday’s practice that Lowrie is dealing with soreness in the back of his left knee. He noticed the soreness while running during the first few days of camp and said the pain has been constant ever since.

"It started when I really started ramping things up,” Lowrie said. “When I started to get into top-end speed stuff. Batting practice. I just felt it kind of the back side of my knee."

“Our goal is to get him ready for the first game of the season,” Callaway said. “That's why we're being cautious with him."

Jed Lowrie (Kathy Willens / AP)

Callaway said Lowrie will need in the range of 40 at-bats before he can potentially play on Opening Day. That depends on whether he’s cleared to play during Grapefruit League games. The first game of spring training is on Saturday.

Lowrie has been staying at his clubhouse locker for no more than a minute. He showed up late to batting practice on Tuesday for his hitting group. The same day, he wasn’t taking grounders at third base — instead J.D. Davis gobbled baseballs like a vacuum at the hot corner.

On Wednesday, again he idled and watched Todd Frazier take grounders at third. He finally picked up a bat and stood in for live batting practice against Jason Vargas on the third day of full-squad workouts. He said he’s been in the cage seeing pitches since Monday.

"I wouldn't say (the pain) has intensified,” Lowrie said. “There was a fair bit of pain and it's kind of remained the same."

When asked about the level of concern over the injury, Callaway said the team is being cautious with Lowrie until they have more answers. Lowrie has never before experienced this type of pain in the back of his left knee.

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If the injury is serious, it’s expected that Davis and Frazier will platoon at third base in place of Lowrie.